Precious Metals Little Changed with Slight Gains

Precious metals were little changed in softer trading Thursday, though all edged up with gold and silver snapping a two-session losing streak.

Gold for April delivery gained $1.10, or less than 0.1%, to close at $1,220.70 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

"We continue to see a conflicted gold market with the market split between bears and bulls as the U.S. dollar strength improves against global economic issues and safe-haven demand," Reuters quoted ANZ analyst Victor Thianpiriya.

Gold prices ranged from a low of $1,218 to a high of $1,232.80. They fell 1% on Wednesday to end at a one-month low.

Silver for March delivery tacked on 3 cents, or 0.2%, to settle at $16.79 an ounce. The precious metal traded between $16.61 and $17.04. Silver prices in the prior session shed 11 cents, or 0.7%.

In PGM futures on Thursday:

April platinum gained $4.90, or 0.4%, to $1,200.50 an ounce, ranging from $1,194.10 to $1,207.50.

Palladium for March delivery tacked on $7.10, or 0.9%, to $773.65 an ounce, trading between $768.45 and $779.25.

London Fix Precious Metals

Earlier fixed London precious metals made modest movements as well. In comparing London bullion Fix prices from Wednesday PM to Thursday PM:

Gold edged down $1.25, or 0.1%, to $1,222.50 an ounce,

Silver lost 6 cents, or 0.4%, to $16.89 an ounce,

Platinum added $4, or 0.3%, to $1,204 an ounce, and

Palladium rose $1, or 0.1%, to $772 an ounce.

US Mint Bullion Coin Sales in February

United States Mint bullion sales were unchanged Thursday. Below are sales of U.S. Mint bullion products with columns listing the number of bullion coins sold during varying time periods.

American Eagle and Buffalo Bullion Sales (# of coins)

Thursday Sales

Last Week

Current Week

January Sales

February Week

YTD Sales

$100 American Platinum Eagle Bullion Coins*

0

0

0

0

0

0

$50 American Eagle Bullion Gold Coins

0

2,000

1,500

51,500

3,500

55,000

$25 American Eagle Bullion Gold Coins

0

0

1,000

18,000

1,000

19,000

$10 American Eagle Bullion Gold Coins

0

0

0

36,000

0

36,000

$5 American Eagle Bullion Gold Coins

0

5,000

20,000

115,000

25,000

140,000

$50 American Buffalo Bullion Gold Coins

0

2,000

3,500

34,500

5,500

40,000

$1 American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins

0

752,000

637,000

5,530,000

1,389,000

6,919,000

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins*

0

0

0

0

0

0

Shenandoah National Park 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins

0

0

0

600

0

600

Arches National Park 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins*

0

0

0

0

0

0

Great Sand Dunes 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins*

0

0

0

0

0

0

Everglades 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins*

0

0

0

0

0

0

Coins with an asterisk (*) have sold out for 2014 with 2015-dated versions yet to be released.